CBP Officers at Texas Border Seize Cocaine Worth Nearly $541K

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville discovered cocaine valued at approximately $540,800 hidden within a GMC Sierra.

On Feb. 4, at the Gateway International Bridge, CBP officers came in contact with a 1996 GMC Sierra being driven by a 62-year-old man, identified as a Mexican citizen and resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. A CBP officer referred the GMC for a secondary examination. In secondary CBP officers discovered seven packages hidden within the pickup. CBP officers removed the packages containing approximately 16.9 pounds of alleged cocaine.

The alleged cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $540,800. CBP officers turned the driver over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle.

"Seven packages hidden within a vehicle might not be easy to find, but CBP officers on the frontline use their training and every tool possible to keep these dangerous drugs from entering our country. I congratulate our Brownsville CBP officers for their outstanding work ethic, and for this seizure and arrest," said Michael Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville port of entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.